Pinson’s Agape Baptist uses clothes drive to reach community

What began as a rather unused clothes closet at Agape Baptist Church, Pinson, resulted in blessings to more than 75 Pinson area families and many new prospects for the church.
   
Recently, the church’s women’s ministry sponsored a clothes drive where the participants received their choice of various types of clothing at no charge.
   
“We started a clothes closet last year and asked people to bring clothes that they no longer wore,” said Pastor Cary Duckett. “We weren’t having a whole lot of success with that. Basically we were just storing a bunch of clothes and we needed the space.”
   
The church’s missions team leader and women’s ministry leader developed an idea to donate the clothes to needy people in the community and advertised it on the church billboard. As the participants arrived, they were required to fill out an information card that asked if they were actively involved in a church.
   
“Basically, we realized that it could be a great way to connect with our community and provide a service and at the same time meet people and come up with prospects,” said Duckett. “Of those 75 families, we had about 18 (families) who told us they did not go to church anywhere. That’s 50 to 60 people who were not going to church.”
   
Many of the needy families who participated in the clothes drive were undergoing difficult situations and were in desperate need of free clothing.
   
“One woman said that she was going through a rather ugly divorce and she and her kids didn’t have any clothes,” he said. “They desperately needed clothes to go to school. She found a dress that she could wear to go to job interviews,” said Duckett. “Another family had just been through a fire and they were able to get some things that they needed.”
   
Not only did the families benefit from this event, but also Agape Church accomplished its goal. Seven people who came to the clothes drive have started attending the church.
   
“It definitely met a need in our community and we have already seen people come to our church from it,” said Duckett. “I know there are a lot of lost people here. We got an opportunity to plant some seeds.”